She advanced toward a window of the dining-room and looked in.

. . . . . . .

Del Mar waited only until the last straggler had passed.  Then he dashed off as fast as his horse would carry him straight toward the deserted hotel which served him as headquarters for the supplies he was accumulating.  As he rode up, one of his sentries appeared, as if from nowhere, and, seeing who it was, saluted.

“Here, take care of this horse,” ordered Del Mar, dismounting and turning the animal over to the man, who led him to the rear of the building as Del Mar entered the front door, after giving a secret signal.

There were his men in goggles and masks at the work, which his knock had interrupted.

“Give me a mask before I enter the room,” he ordered of the man who had answered his signal.

The man handed the mask and goggles to him, as well as a coat, which he put on quickly.  Then he entered the room and looked at the rapid progress of the work.

“Where’s the prisoner?” asked Del Mar a moment later, satisfied at the progress of his men.

“In the attic room,” one of his lieutenants indicated.

“I’d like to take a look at him,” added Del Mar, just about to turn and leave the room.

As he did so, he happened to glance at one of the windows.  There, peering through the broken shutters, was a face—­a girl’s face—­ Elaine!

“Just what I wanted guarded against,” he cried angrily, pointing at the window.  “Now—­get her!”

The men had sprung up at his alarm.  They could all see her and with one accord dashed for the door.  Elaine sprang back and they ran as they saw that she was warned.  In genuine fear now she too ran from the window.  But it was too late.

For just then the sentry who had taken Del Mar’s horse came from behind the building cutting off her retreat.  He seized her just as the other men ran out.  Elaine stared.  She could make nothing of them.  Even Del Mar, in his goggles and breathing mask was unrecognizable.

“Take her inside,” he ordered disguising his voice.  Then to the sentry he added, “Get on guard again and don’t let any one through.”

Elaine was hustled into the big deserted hallway of the hotel, just as the tramp had been.

“You may go back to work,” Del Mar signed to the other men, who went on, leaving one short but athletic looking fellow with Del Mar and Elaine.

“Lock her up, Shorty,” ordered Del Mar, “and bring the other prisoner to me down here.”

None too gently the man forced Elaine up-stairs ahead of him.

. . . . . . .

In the attic, the tramp, pacing up and down, heard footsteps approach on the stairs and enter the next room.

Quickly he ran to the doorway and peered through the keyhole.  There he could see Elaine and the small man enter.  He locked the door to the hall, then quickly took a step toward the door into the tramp’s room.